Director of Elections, Defiance County, Ohio
Tonya Wichman is an election administration leader with more than a decade of experience strengthening, modernizing, and securing elections in Defiance County. Wichman led major initiatives including implementation of new voting equipment, the transition to electronic poll books, and significant expansions in cyber and physical security.
She is especially proud of building a high-performing team of election specialists, voting location managers, and poll workers who consistently deliver smooth, trusted elections. Wichman is a certified Ohio Registered Elections Official and a Certified Election Registration Administrator, and holds a Master’s Certificate in High Performance Leadership. Her work includes serving on state and national committees, mentoring other counties, and contributing to innovation through the ASU AI and Democracy Lab and the Election Center board. Wichman is also deeply engaged in advocacy to protect election officials, strengthen legislative outreach, and secure sustainable election funding. Community connections are central to her work.
She enjoys partnering with local schools, nursing homes, and organizations to build civic understanding, and co-founded the Election Ambassadors Scholarship Program to support and inspire future leaders in Defiance County.
